 19/09/2008 By now you’ve probably heard about London’s new super-venue, Matter. If you haven’t, I can only presume you’re a recently cured agoraphobic, or you’ve had your cock stuck in a coke can for the last two months or something. Everyone who likes their bass BIG, their nights MENTAL and their music supplied by the front-runners on the DJ circuit and live scene, has been talking about Matter. It’s going to be absolutely friggin’ HUGE! We’re talking an Elvis burger HUGE! We’re talking Dolly Parton’s latest breast implants HUGE! We’re talking a 32,737 square foot, 2,600 capacity venue - housed within London’s O2 - HUGE! We’re talking the same crew who brought you London’s Fabric HUGE! We’re talking a body kinetic dance-floor, a super sound-system and cutting edge visuals HUGE! We’re talking UNKLE, Ian Brown, Ian Astbury, Gavin Walker, Joel Cadbury, Late of the Pier, Iglu and Hartley, and Carl Cox playing across the opening 2 nights HUGE! We’re talking… we’re talking… we’re… we’re… Fuck it, we’ve done enough talking. We caught up with Matter’s founder Keith Reilly, so that he could do some talking and let you know just how HUGE Matter's going to be…
Having been a co-founder of Fabric, how did the challenge of opening a venue like Matter compare?
They were very different projects. Fabric was more difficult in the development stages because there were immense structural and engineering problems associated with the conversion of a structure so old and awkward. Matter has been built from a flat plot of land, so the problems related to design and the scale of the project; almost twice the size of Fabric. But to be totally honest neither of them felt like a challenge. They both felt like glorious opportunities to create the spaces we’d dreamt of. If you could imagine that you were redesigning your living room to install the very best sound and visual system available, would it feel like a challenge to you? Of course not. You’d be stimulated, excited, and enthused throughout. That's exactly how it feels to me.
With so many huge clubs and club-nights scattered around the capital, it must be a pretty competitive market; especially if you're a new venue. How will Matter keep ahead of its game?
Matter isn't there to compete, and we never make those market or benchmark comparisons to stay in or ahead of any thing or game. Matter is simply there to create. Both Fabric and Matter are almost experiments in self-indulgence. We do exactly what we want to do and what we believe in when it comes to music. If people love it we’ll pay the rent, if they don’t then we’ll fail. It really is as simple as that. That might sound clichéd or pretentious to some, but if you think about it, it’s entirely logical. Observing our self-indulgence ensures that the integrity and sincerity of what we do is never diluted or distorted to fit anything else, least of all market conditions or trends. If people love what we do, that’s fantastic. If they don't, there’s little value in us changing what we do because we’d be playing a guessing game, making things up as we go and adjusting it in accordance with external forces; and that’s not a game we could play well. The objective is not to compete with others. Many of them are doing wonderful things. The purpose here is to explore the perceived boundaries of what’s possible in terms of live performance and production levels and transcend them. These aspirations are based on personal fulfillment, not the desire to excel in any given market or supersede the efforts or achievements of others.
By melding live acts and DJs with artists and bands, you're basically targeting two niches. What was behind the decision to include bands in what many conceive, perhaps wrongly, as being a club venue? How will the concept operate?
 Perception is very often misleading. Firstly, this is not a club venue… It’s a live music venue that is better equipped in terms of sound and visuals than any other that I’m aware of. Fusing live acts with DJ's is not new to us either. We’ve been doing it for 9 years at Fabric. There are nights at Fabric where we present anything from up 20 full live shows in one night. Matter gives us the opportunity to present very different shows and raise the production bar. I’m not sure I accept the premise that a split between live and DJ represent niches either. I’ve always loved and attended both and I think that isn’t too dissimilar to the outlook of others. The necessary distinction is between good music and bad music, not the style of performance.
I couldn’t agree more… Okay, what about the technology and the travel to and from Matter? To put things into perspective, just how advanced is Matter compared to other venues? Sell it to us…
Technology… This is a subject that most find boring or confusing. I could rattle out endless data regarding tech specs and innovative equipment, but to many that will be meaningless terminology and model numbers. It’s something you have to see and feel. The purpose of equipping the venue with cutting edge technology is not to impress people with stats and large numbers related to power, it’s to touch other parts of the psyche with its beauty and capability, and to leave people utterly breathless and overwhelmed by the moment. A tech spec can't do that; you really need to see how we use it in the performances we present. As for travel, there is nothing unusual here either - save the inclusion of riverboat facilities. We have always provided safe taxis which we operate ourselves at Fabric. The Jubilee line is a fantastic link. Drops you right at the door and only four stops from Bank Station. I really hope that people take full advantage of the river though. It’s a truly enchanting way to arrive because the river is so spectacular at night.
It's a venue that many believe will be one of the biggest in the world. You've got UNKLE and Ian Brown playing the launch night, and DJs including Kissy Sell Out and Carl Cox in the opening month alone. Have you had any artists, DJs or bands personally approach Matter to play at the venue? How huge has the interest been?
The interest has been amazing. Many of the artists have been incredibly receptive and supportive. Fortunately we have existing relationships that have been built over years between parties that respect and value each others respective commitment to music and promotion. It's usually more difficult with a completely fresh project of this nature. Most artists and agents prefer a suck-it-and-see approach, but our history at Fabric has made it much easier to communicate our performance productions objectives. David Levy is one of the most respected and professional agents in the business. He has had the courage and foresight to book a Deadmau5 show at the venue before it has even opened. David knows us well enough to understand that we’ll do anything required to ensure this venue will be everything we promised and that the show will be stunning. David visited the venue during its development and understood it immediately. It's encouraging that we have agents like him, with the experience and foresight necessary to bring all these things together.
Although Matter's a completely different entity to Fabric and if the rumours are to be believed, do you feel that following Fabric's closure next January, supporters of the club will see Matter as their next port of call?
I have heard this rumour several times recently. Let me make it clear that Fabric has no intention of closing its doors this January or any other. It will close when the party is finally over. I think this has been confused with the closure of The End, in January. Fabric and Matter will be doing different things and will be exciting alternatives to anyone who truly loves their music. Seeing Sasha or UNKLE at matter will be a different experience to seeing Sasha or UNKLE at Fabric. I see no reason why people who want to see this artist in Matter wouldn't wish to do so again is six months time at Fabric.
 There are a lot of people who’ll be well chuffed that you cleared that up for us. Finally, what plans has Matter got for the future? Any big names you can reveal who’ll be playing the venue or large celebrations worthy of note?
No plans. I want it to evolve and find its own path, devoid of premeditation. It will blossom as fabric did, as a consequence of the collective contributions of the many artists we work with. It’s exciting and intriguing not knowing exactly what will happen. All we’ve created so far is a cradle in which beautiful things may grow. As for announcing future acts - you must be kidding! My press department will lynch me if I disclosed that.
Matter opens its doors with a Live Launch Night on Friday 19th September, featuring the likes of UNKLE, Ian Brown, Late of the Pier and Iglu and Hartley. Saturday 20th September marks the venues Club Launch Night, featuring the likes of Carl Cox, Yousef and The Field. Everyone from Reverend and the Makers to Kissy Sell Out and Simian Mobile Disco will be heading to Matter over the next month. For further information, visit Matter’s website by CLICKING HERE! |
